India to have its own navigation system for citizens, Isro to launch 7 NaVIC satellites

The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) announced that it is working to make India’s own regional navigation system (NaVIC) which will be accessible to civilians soon. As of now, the accurate positioning system is confined to only strategic use. Pawan Goenka, chairman of space regulator and promoter INSPACe noted that “by 2025, Isro will target to launch a dozen satellites every year, including six GSLV launches,” The Times of India reported.

He said that satellite launches will be ramped up to fulfil the growing demand of the space sector. “We are introducing seven navigation satellites with a new L1 band that will make NaVIC signals accessible in civilians’ mobile phones with a compatible chipset. Of the seven, one satellite has already been launched. Navigation satellites launched earlier worked on different bands (L5 and S),” Goenka said during a media roundtable.

He maintained that NaVIC (Navigation With Indian Constellation) is more accurate than navigation systems around the world and that the Indian government is working on widening its reach, TOI reported.

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INSPACe planning to bring space law into the country 

During the presser, Goenka maintained that the formation of INSPACe, space policy and FDI has provided a major boost to the sector. “Our next objective is to bring in space law, which the country doesn’t have,” he added.

“We have prepared the first draft and will send it for consultation and then it will go to the ministry for clearance before cabinet approval. The entire process will be completed by either end of this year or by the first quarter of next year,” Goenka said.

It is pertinent to note that NaVIC provides positioning accuracy of better than 10 metres throughout India and better than 20 metres for the area surrounding India by 1,500 km. Goenka also informed that Isro is planning to focus on small launchers and satellites so that it can grab a lion’s share of the $5.2 billion global small satellite market.

With this aim in mind, Isro has developed a mini-launcher SSLV and Goenka noted that its technology will be transferred to the private sector in the next two years.

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With inputs from agencies.